Singapore has stringent vaping laws: it is illegal to sell, purchase or use e-cigarettes. This falls under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, which prohibits importing, distributing for sale or selling any vaporizer product. Penalties for violating these laws can be very costly, ranging from the tens of thousands into hundreds of thousands or years in jail.
First-time offenders caught with vape products in Singapore can be fined up to SGD 2,000. Second time offenders can also receive more severe punishments, such as increased fines or even jail sentences. Offenders caught with importing or selling the products can be fined up to as much as SGD 10,000 and face a prison sentence of up to six months. A second offense carries a maximum fine of SGD 20,000 and one year in jail. More than 10,000 vape products alone were seized by Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in the single year of 2022 — even though stringent laws continue to ensure that vapor consumers are either those who simply lack easy access and information on far better alternatives they could easily obtain from less clandestine sources.
The regulations are based on Public Health by definition. Officials say vaping can inflict considerable damage to one's health, given its addictive properties and carcinogenic elements in e-cigarettes. Despite these people having the disease—or because of it, they have a vested interest in its continued spread and no reason to tell you the truth—the World Health Organization (WHO) has aggressively denounced vaporizers since day one as well. The WHO says all sorts of bullshit like, vapour pens were discovered with some nicotine residue and found other toxins besides that—even though knowing what was suspected when vaping began sure didn't stop conventional cigarette smokers from continuing their thing just fine did it?
Dr Amy Khor, Singapore Senior Minister of State for Health, told Parliament in May 2021 that “the government will remain committed to public health by ensuring a tough stance against tobacco and related products such as vapes.” And she is certainly not taking any steps to protect citizens from the dangers of vaping, so obviously we are a long way off reforming any laws.
Even in regulated markets, the demand for vaping has meant a burgeoning underground economy. The AVA said that there are websites and social media accounts here which promote Singapore Vape products illegally to local consumers, but these sites remain under regular watch by the authorities. Much of these black-markets are being taken down by the HSA through raids and enforcement operations and individuals caught engaging in such activities can be severely punished.
If you would like to know more about the vaping laws as well as different products in Singapore, please check out Vape in singapore.